ASU study underscores economic impact of Phoenix Fire Department

TEMPE, AZ - An independent ASU study shows that the Phoenix Fire Department may be responsible for saving thousands of jobs and millions to the Arizona economy.
 
The study looked at eight commercial fires last year where the fire department's response ended up saving the business.
 
Hatfield's Laundry near 16th Street and Washington was one of them.
 
A fire started in the back lot last summer and the fire department responded within about three minutes, preventing it from spreading to the main building and the gas lines.
 
"It would have been devastating," said owner Janet Corrigan. "We have customers and we would have had to see about relocating, and then there are long-time employees who would have been without a paycheck."
 
The family business has been operating in Phoenix for the past 50 years.
 
The study shows that the eight fires could have cost about 2,100 jobs both directly and indirectly tied to the individual businesses, and an economic loss to the state to the tune of half a billion dollars.
 
Mayor Greg Stanton told ABC15 that this is a huge plus in this down economy, and says it may even help in attracting new business to the Valley because the department is helping keep the cost of doing business low.